Silent Hill 4: The Room is the black sheep of the Japanese developed games. Leaving behind the cults and psychological horror of the previous games, SH4 focuses on a dream world with condensed linear levels and bizarre scenarios even by Silent Hill standards. Unfortunately the game fails to execute any of its core concepts. The first half of the game is a self contained series of linear key hunts completely bereft of puzzles and items. You can return to your apartment to fully heal and this almost Souls-like form of progression dominates the first few hours. This changes entirely midway through the game when it becomes an escort mission with an injured character through the exact same maps. You can't progress without this character, you're frequently chased by a gun/chainsaw toting super villain, and immortal ghosts briefly encountered in the first half can travel map to map to harass you. This section of the game is completely dependent on puzzles and while you can briefly leave your escort behind the games ending is directly tied to their wellbeing. The biggest positive is the atmosphere. The titular apartment feels like a lived in space and the game frequently surprises you in the second half by taking away the safety of this space. This is the unfortunate downfall of SH4: the second half is a real good Silent Hill experience dragged down by an escort mission but the second half wouldn't be engaging without the drawn out dull safety of the first half. SH4 is a frustrating experience but filled with enough creepy concepts to be worth a watch. I can't recommend anyone spend the 8 hours it takes to play blind.
Years before David Cage resigned his career to making virtual Simon Says, furniture dodging simulators, and "Press X to Jason!" he directed this little gem. Omikron is a mix of genres but it's largely an adventure game on a grand scale. You search for clues, discover your next destination, solve a puzzle or fight in an action sequence, and proceed through a unique story in a strange hybrid world of cyberpunk and magical fantasy. Omikron can be clunky and slow at times but there are few titles that can compare. It can be compared to Shenmue but it lacks the interactive diversions. It can also be compared to cult favorite Deadly Premonition but it lacks the endearingly campy writing. Omikron sits somewhere in the middle but it's a happy middle any adventure fan will love.
